Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic farming in Kenya is a profitable business when done correctly. Garlic popularly known as 'Kitunguu Saumu' belonging to the onion family is a valuable horticultural plant due to its attractive yields and high demand in the Kenyan market. But given that garlic has a strong smell, why would anyone demand it? In addition to Kenya, many French, Mediterranean, Spanish, Italian, and Mexican recipes also call for the use of garlic in the making of specific meals. It is hence popular both domestically and abroad. Garlic has a number of therapeutic benefits in addition to its economic importance.
Is Garlic Farming In Kenya Profitable - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic is a high value crop closely related to the onion. Garlic demand is generally highest during the months of May, June and July. During this period, farm gate prices for one kilo are around 290 and 350 sh. To plant an acre of garlic requires about 100 kg of garlic cloves, which cost between 350 and 400 Ksh depending on the source. One acre of land, depending on how it is grown, produces between 4,000 and 5,000 kg of garlic.
Profits from Garlic Farming In Kenya per Acre - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Kenyan market rates for garlic vary depending on the harvest season. During peak season, 1 kilo can be sold for, as low as 400sh and during low season prices can be as low as sh. 200.
Consequently, the following table shows the garlic farming in Kenya profit per acre.
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Garlic
Farming Profit Per Acre In Kenya - |
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|
Garlic Produce |
Quantity |
Estimated
Amount |
Total
Charges |
Gross
Profit |
|
Minimum Produce |
4000
kg |
Assuming
the harvest season is low, 1 kg goes for Ksh. 200 |
Ksh.
800,000 |
Ksh.
725,000 |
|
Maximum Produce |
5000 kg |
Assuming the harvest season is low, 1 kg goes for Ksh. 200 |
Ksh. 1,000,000 |
Ksh. 925,000 |
For one acre of land, one needs 100 kilos of garlic seeds, which cost up to Ksh 550 per kilo, so the production cost would be 55,000 and yields between 4,000 and 6,000 kilos of harvest. Going with 5,000 kilos and selling at Ksh 350 per kilo during peak season would fetch around 1,750,000
Minus 55,000, cost of production, you get a clean net profit of 1,695,000, although when it comes to selling we usually look at market prices, which are always between 150 Ksh and 250 Ksh or even 300 Ksh.
How Much Can You Get From An Acre Of Garlic Farming In Kenya?
It is important to know that Garlic farming in Kenya will not provide you with a good income overnight. Like most plants, garlic takes several months to grow until harvest time. But don't be discouraged. With a little hard work and a few smart decisions, you could be making a lot of money Garlic Farming In Kenya before you know it. Remember that a good producer is a patient producer.
If an acre of land can produce about 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of crop, how much do you expect from just 10 acres? Is it worth venturing into this pot?
How Much Does 1 Kg of Garlic Cost In Kenya - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic is a high value crop closely related to the onion. Garlic demand is generally highest during the months of May, June and July. During this period, farm gate prices for one kilo are around 290 and 350 sh.
How Long Garlic Take To Grow - Garlic Farming In Kenya
How long does it take to grow garlic in Kenya? That can be found in West Africa is the next question we want to answer to help you make a good decision on how long to grow garlic in Kenya or when to harvest garlic in Kenya
Garlic should never be harvested too early or too late, as this will degrade the quality of the product. To determine the best harvest time, follow the growing months for 4-6 months.
Other than that, how long does it take for sweet garlic to grow? about 90 days
Where Does Garlic Grow Best In Kenya - Garlic Farming In Kenya
In short, garlic onions are one of the most difficult crops to grow because they tend to survive in a small geographic area across the world.
Here in Kenya, garlic farming in Kenya is doing well in Meru, Nakuru and Narok. Garlic can also do well in any other area compatible with the areas mentioned above, but only for small-scale production.
Garlic Growing Cost per Acre - Garlic Farming In Kenya
The cost of Garlic Farming In Kenya is covered in depth in the table below, but the cost of farmland is not.
Cost Of Garlic Farming In Kenya Per Acre - Garlic Farming In Kenya
|
Cost
Of Garlic Farming In Kenya Per Acre |
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|
Requirements |
Quantity |
Charges |
|
Garlic Seeds |
1
acre of land will require up to 100 kilograms of garlic Each
kilo costs for instance Ksh. 450 (some
seasons have the price even lower) |
Ksh.
45,000 |
|
Fertilizer |
9-12 kgs between the 6th -8th week. A 25 kg bag approximately Ksh. 500 |
Approximately Ksh. 500 |
|
Labor |
Per
person |
Approximately
Ksh. 20,000 |
|
Miscellaneous |
Transport and disease control just in case |
Approximately Ksh. 10,000 |
|
TOTAL COST |
Ksh.
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2 Cost of Garlic Farming In Kenya Per Acre
How to Start Garlic Farming In Kenya - Garlic Farming In Kenya
In order to have bountiful harvests when Garlic Farming In Kenya, you must have adequate knowledge of local seed varieties, soil suitability and viable weather conditions where the crop can thrive. Below, we take a look at the different stages of Garlic Farming In Kenya, highlighting the procedures needed and what you need to know.
Garlic Seeds - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic is grown with clove seeds; So, as a budding garlic grower, you should get certified garlic seeds with fully ripe, disease-free cloves. These seeds can be purchased from a licensed garden center or seed company. When selecting the best clove seeds, choose the larger ones as they will produce a better crop compared to the smaller ones.
The three main varieties that do well in Kenya include soft neck, hard neck and elephant types of garlic.
Soft-neck is the most popular and is characterized by white, papery skin with a rather strong flavor and pungent smell. It is one of the easiest varieties to grow. Softneck has varieties such as Creole, California Early and California Late.
Hard-neck is featured with brown and purple markings. It is a variety that produces more and less teeth on each head. However, the hardneck doesn't store much more than the softneck. Hardneck has varieties like Roja and German Extra Hearty.
Elephant garlic is characterized by a large head and huge teeth. Moreover, it has a subtle flavor with a mild smell compared to the first two types of garlic.
Best Weather Conditions for Growing Garlic In Kenya - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic farming in Kenya does well at medium to high altitudes of 500 to 200 meters above sea level. Additionally, garlic requires high temperatures of 30ºC to help the bulb grow. develop properly. However, during the preliminary stages, cooler temperatures are preferred as they promote the vegetative growth needed for plant establishment. For this reason, the ideal temperatures for growing garlic vary between 12 and 24 ºC.
It should be noted that excess rain and humidity is bad for the vegetative growth of garlic as well as bulb formation and as such the crop will do well in low rainfall areas, possibly replaced by irrigation during the growth phase. Start when water demand is highest.
The Best Soils for Garlic Farming In Kenya - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic farming in Kenya needs soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. For this reason, Garlic Farming in Kenya is suitable for most Kenyan soils as long as they drain well and the crop performs poorly in soggy soils. Farmers should avoid growing garlic in clay soil as much as possible, as it makes it difficult for the bulbs to grow.
Additionally, you should ensure that the soil is well prepared with loose, airy depths of up to 6 to 8 inches and should be dry and free of rocks and plant debris. To ensure optimal yields, mix the soil with compost before plowing, as this will aid in the formation of improved bulbs.
Garlic Farming In Kenya Actual Planting and Spacing - Garlic Farming In Kenya
In order to have bountiful harvests when Garlic farming in Kenya, you must have adequate knowledge of local seed varieties, soil suitability and viable weather conditions where the crop can thrive. Below, we take a look at the different stages of Garlic Farming In Kenya, highlighting the procedures involved and what you need to know.
Mulch and Manure Application - Garlic Farming In Kenya
After planting garlic seeds, you should protect them from adverse conditions with a thick layer of mulch. You can use a 4-6 inch layer of straw, chopped leaves or grass and place it over the rows. Doing so will insulate the seeds, protecting them from harsh winter conditions. This cover should be removed on the first day of spring when temperatures are 55 or 6o F, as that is when the garlic seeds will begin to sprout.
After removing the mulch and in moderate spring temperatures, apply a lightweight all-purpose compound every 30 to 40 days. The best fertilizer is 5-5-5 or 10-10-10, which specifies the amount of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, respectively, in that particular fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer by spraying your granules over the sprouted garlic, making sure the granules don't touch the real plant; this is because they can burn the plant or have other harmful effects. Most manufacturers recommend applying the fertilizer at the rate of ¾ per 100 square feet.
Irrigation - Garlic Farming In Kenya
As mentioned above, Garlic Farming In Kenya thrives in well-drained soil that prevents waterlogging. Garlic requires less water and when the seeds are crushed there is no need to water. If there is little rain in the season, the garlic can be watered after a few weeks. A light watering of an inch deep is sufficient. However, if it rains reasonably every 10 to 14 days, irrigation is not necessary.
Disease Control Affecting Garlic Farming in Kenya - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Of the field management practices involved in the cultivation of garlic in Kenya, weed management is the most common as weeds must be eliminated to avoid competition for nutrients, light and water.
One way to suppress weed growth when Garlic Farming In Kenya is to practice crop rotation where new garlic seeds are sown in areas that have gone a long time without growing garlic or onions.
Additionally, you can eliminate weeds by hand by weeding, mulching, plowing or using herbicides. Early weed management is very important, as it will prevent substantial yield losses.
For pest prevention and control, use copper oxychloride and other soil fumigants to minimize and eliminate nematodes in the field.
Harvesting and Storing In Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic should never be harvested too early or too late, as it affects the quality of the product. To know the right harvest time, the growing months should be monitored for about 4-6 months.
Knowing the exact time of harvest is a bit tricky, because the heads of garlic are submerged in the ground, and also the different varieties have a variable ripening period. As such, you should inspect the foliage and see if it has turned brown and withered as a guide to harvesting.
After digging up the crops add them by the dozen or fifteen and let them dry in a well-ventilated room. Keep them there for three to four weeks, after which their shoots and roots will dry out. Cut the top about an inch above the main bulb and roots, and then peel off the outer skin without removing the exposed teeth. Clean off the dirt and your bulbs are ready to sell.
While waiting to sell your produce, you will need to store your garlic in optimal storage conditions, depending on whether you will be using it as table stock or planting material. If you intend to use them as dishes, store them at 0-4ºC or 60-70% humidity; indeed, temperatures above 4 degrees Celsius will cause germination, while humidity above 70% will promote rooting. On the other hand, planting material should be stored at room temperature with a relative humidity of 60-70%.
Conclusion - Garlic Farming In Kenya
Garlic Farming in Kenya has gained a significant consumption rate among people across the country. Most people believe that garlic contains substances that help reduce unhealthy conditions. Garlic extracts are used by manufacturing industries in Kenya to make other useful and healthy products.
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